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Production of CNT-taxol-embedded PCL microspheres using an ammonium-based room temperature ionic liquid: As a sustained drug delivery system

2014; Elsevier BV; Volume: 442; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jcis.2014.11.044

1095-7103

Seong Yeol Kim, Ji‐Young Hwang, Jae‐Won Seo, Ueon Sang Shin,

Conducting polymers and applications

We describe a one-pot method for the mass production of polymeric microspheres containing water-soluble carbon-nanotube (w-CNT)-taxol complexes using an ammonium-based room temperature ionic liquid. Polycaprolactone (PCL), trioctylmethylammonium chloride (TOMAC; liquid state from −20 to 240 °C), and taxol were used, respectively, as a model polymer, room temperature ionic liquid, and drug. Large quantities of white colored PCL powder without w-CNT-taxol complexes and gray colored PCL powders containing w-CNT-taxol (1:1 or 1:2 wt/wt) complexes were produced by phase separation between the hydrophilic TOMAC and the hydrophobic PCL. Both microsphere types had a uniform, spherical structure of average diameter 3–5 μm. The amount of taxol embedded in PCL microspheres was determined by HPLC and 1H NMR to be 8–12 μg per 1.0 mg of PCL (loading capacity (LC): 0.8–1.2%; entrapment efficiency (EE): 16–24%). An in vitro HPLC release assay showed sustain release of taxol without an initial burst over 60 days at an average rate of 0.003–0.0073 mg per day. The viability patterns of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) for PCTx-1 and -2 showed dose-dependent inhibitory effects. In the presence of PCTx-1 and -2, the MCF-7 cells showed high viability in the concentration level of, respectably, <70 and <5 μg/mL.